Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
Psalm 73:28
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, December 16, 2019
“Advent Calls Us to Repentance and Preparation”
Art is something that has always been enjoyable to me. In high school I took every art class possible. In college, Art Appreciation didn’t sound very exciting at first; in fact it sounded boring. “Why waste time learning how to appreciate art when you could be doing it?” It turned out to be very enjoyable and it had a positive impact on my life. It taught me to search for the overlooked things that give meaning to someone’s story on canvas.
Studying a masterpiece of art and studying the Bible are much the same. We can look at it and get the general idea, and then walk on by; or we can stop and take some time to really see the details and things that others will never know.
ADVENT is something like Art Appreciation. Some would ask, “Why bother with it, let’s get on with Christmas.” These four weeks are to help us see things that we might fail to notice if we did not intentionally take time to stop and study. Things like the fact that we are sinners in need of a Savior. Our world is broken and our only hope is that God will come anew into our hearts, families, and communities.
The better we understand the need of humankind, the more we will appreciate the GIFT OF GOD. Why sing, “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” if after he comes, we don’t want to be with him; or “Be near me Lord, Jesus, I ask Thee to stay” if we are living a life that mocks his presence? Advent calls us to repentance and preparation for the next coming of Christ.
Is it possible that us church folks can be going on like those who say “Why waste time appreciating our Savior’s story and our faith when we can be busy doing stuff?” We can no longer get by with just noticing the general idea of faith; many of us are already suffering from not paying attention to the details. Jesus is coming again, and there is no time anymore for hit and miss Christianity. Advent is not just Jesus coming to us; didn’t he also call us to come unto him?
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to Youtube – Nearer My God to Thee
